Which will be the best first-round series?

[ShoogarBear]

Poll coming, hold on . . .

[Tippecanoe]

i think spurs/suns is gonna be the most intense 1st rd matchup

i also have a feeling raptors/magic is going down to the wire as well

[Tippecanoe]

so pretty much both 3v6 matchups

[ShoogarBear]

Spurs-Suns is an easy call, but the more I think about it, the more I think the Hornets-Mavs series is going to be anic. Dallas has to be the best 7 seed in history.

[ShoogarBear]

Oh, and don't count out Wiz-Cavs. This will be the third straight year they meet in the postseason, and they don't particularly like each other.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

I'd say Mavs/Hornets.

[DespЏrado]

Most likely to get bloody - Spurs > Suns
Most likely to have an upset - Mavs > Hornets
Most "fun" to watch because no one plays D - Lakers > Nuggets

Best rematch from last year - Spurs > Suns
Most evenly matched - Cleveland = Washington
The best dark horse contenders - Orlando > Toronto
The two best coached teams, no one will watch - Utah > Houston


And the matches with the best fishing gear:
Boston > Atlanta
Detroit > Philadelphia

[SAtown]

In my order:

Spurs v PHX

Dallas v NO

Utah v Houston

Cleveland v Washington

Lakers v Denver

Toronto v Orlando

Detroit v Philly

Boston v Atlanta

[1Parker1]

I think the Nuggets vs Lakers series is going to be a lot closer than people think. Lakers aren't exactly a great peremeter defensive team. JR Smith has been shooting lights out. Combined with the fact that they have 2 capable scorers to counter Kobe and Camby and Kenyon Martin can potentially be good defensively against Gasol, this is going to be a good series I think.

[easjer]

Spurs-Suns is an easy call, but the more I think about it, the more I think the Hornets-Mavs series is going to be anic. Dallas has to be the best 7 seed in history.

Totally agree - but the history is what made me vote for Spurs/Suns.

I'm rooting for Dallas in that series.

[SouthernFried]

For all the talk about the Suns taking the series and the Spurs being old, boring, blah, blah, blah...

...everyone's gonna be watching 'em.

Ironic justice?

[DespЏrado]

I think the Nuggets vs Lakers series is going to be a lot closer than people think. Lakers aren't exactly a great peremeter defensive team. JR Smith has been shooting lights out. Combined with the fact that they have 2 capable scorers to counter Kobe and Camby and Kenyon Martin can potentially be good defensively against Gasol, this is going to be a good series I think.

I agree, the nuggets are in good position to pull off an upset. And it will remain interesting as long as Denver keeps it compe ive.

[Kobayagi]

Oh, and don't count out Wiz-Cavs. This will be the third straight year they meet in the postseason, and they don't particularly like each other.

In my opinion this one is going to be almost as interesting as Spurs - Suns. I'd really like to see if Lebron is going to respond to Deshawn Stevenson calling him out...AGAIN!





I pick the Wiz in 7 but not because of Deshawn.

[himat]

It's insane to think that either Shaq or TD will have to go home in the first round.

[ShoogarBear]

Especially since they've won 8 out of the last 9 between them.

[duncan228]

It's insane to think that Shaq will have to go home in the first round.

I like that better.

[manufor3]

both 3 vs. 6 but spurs vs suns

[Spurminator]

I'd like to pick something besides the obvious Spurs series, but this series is going to be epic. Bad blood, Duncan vs. Shaq, Nash vs. Parker, Manu, Amare... can't ask for much more.

I'd love to sweep them in a very boring, one sided series, though.

Dallas vs New Orleans is also must-see TV... I think it will go 7.

[ancestron]

Spurs vs. Suns is easily the best, but Mavs vs. Hornets is kind of a close second. I am interested in all the playoff series. Some really intriguing matchups this year. I am hoping the Hawks pull a Golden State on the Celtics, who btw didn't win as many games as the Mavs did last year, but thats a long shot I know.

[Findog]

Celtics-Hawks FTW!

Of course, because of the regular season, everybody expects this to be the most epic playoffs ever. Watch the Spurs and Suns disappoint and the winner emerges in 5 or something.

[timvp]

Best as in best basketball played, most fun to watch or most hotly contested? Depending on which definition, my answers in order are Spurs/Suns, Lakers/Denver and Hornets/Mavs.

The only series in the East that interests me is Cavs/Wiz. The Celtics and Pistons both have byes and the Magic/Raptors series is just a series to see who will lose to the Pistons in the second round. In the West, Jazz/Rockets will likely be lame. Jazz should romp.

[sasysmith]

Suns and Spurs will be the best, no doubt about it. I think that match-up is as close as you're going to get to an ancient Roman gladiarorial fight these days.

Denver and LA will be good too. It will a fan-freak'n-tastic series if Denver manages to take out LA.

[Dirk41MVP]

Suns and Spurs
Mavs and Hornets

the 2 best, hands down... LA/Den will be good too, but I want to watch those 2 first

[ShoogarBear]

Y'know, I knew I should have made it "outside of Spurs/Suns".

To answer your question, timvp, I mean "most hotly contested". You can have great basketball being played and the series end in 5 or 6 games. I could easily see the Spurs/Suns go only six no matter who wins. I can't envision the Hornets/Mavs going less than seven, unless the Hornets just completely choke.

[nfg3]

Suns vs. Spurs - this will be all out war. Very physical and the Suns out for revenge with the Spurs looking for the B2B.

Mavs vs. Hornets - Could the Hornets youth and lack of playoff experience be their downfall? I'm hoping to see the Hornets grow up in thisone.

Those two absolutely. The other ones that intrigue me are:

Wizs vs. Cavs - they're so evenly matched and I don't think there will be as much witnessing this year as last.

Jazz vs. Rockets - when will the Jazz win on the road? The have a va team but haven't gotten over that hump yet. Maybe this year they can but until then they are suspect.